Listed Below are all the Good Things about the Dodgers right now
More from Dodger Talk
Nothing Wrong With Back of the Rotation SP for LAD
I said it when Roki Sasaki was struggling…If not Roki, who? He finally started to pitch with more confidence and he put together a string of positive starts. Yes, there were those who forgot about his previous four excellent starts and instead focused on his CWS start. He is a…
Who Bats Where?
A good percentage of comments on this blog relate to “who bats where” in the batting order. “Shohei should bat cleanup.” “ Freddie should be the number three hitter.” “No, Freddie should hit second.” “Max Muncy should hit cleanup.” “Mookie should hit 9th.” … and on and on… Where…
Happy, Hopeful, Blessed, and Thankful
I grew up in Ohio and lived there until 1976, when I was 23 years old. I have been in Indiana for 50 years, so I consider myself a Hoosier. Now, I actually live 45 minutes from Bloomington, where the IU Hoosiers play. However, since I was nine years old, I have been a Dodger…
Are You True Blue?
What do I mean by true blue? Well, over the years I have seen my share of bandwagon and fair-weather fans. True blue fans stick with the team no matter what. Their allegiance to the team never waivers. Not when a favorite is traded or lost to free agency, not when the team…
Discussion (24)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Kershaw had recorded just one out in giving up 4 earned runs to start the game. Then he gamely battled back, holding the Pirates scoreless over the next four innings as the Dodgers tied it up.
Then Henriquez, who has been pitching well, gave up 3 earned runs while recording just one out. Ugh.
The good news is the Dodgers’ bats didn’t take the day off.
And I find solace knowing that Max should soon be back to replace Freeland, who struck out three times in this one as his BA dipped to .198. That’s Conforto territory.
Well, that was bit unfair of me. Conforto’s BA went to .189 after another hitless outing.
Surely he’ll find a spot on the bench soon, but Roberts keeps writing his name into the lineup. With Kim back, I thought Conforto might be sitting.
Some subplots in this one:
–Three hits from Will Smith and an 0-for-5 from Freddie now have them tied at .297 in the league batting race behind Trea Turner at .301 and Sal Frelick at .298. (Will leads in OBP at .406, ahead of Juan Soto’s .399.)
–Miguel Rojas, at age 36, remains consistently if modestly productive with an OPS at .706. If he keeps this up, the Dodgers might bring the old guy back in ’26 to give Freeland more seasoning. Over the last 30 days, Miggy’s BA is 100 points higher than Freeland’s. He’s also outhit Kike.
–Mookie had two more hits–another sign that his long slump is over. His OPS for the season is still a tick below .700–but over the past 30 days his OPS has been .845, with a .396 OBP.
–Shohei had another big day–not that it will stop the chatter that maybe Schwarber should be the MVP. Certainly Schwarber is have an MVP-caliber season, and I suspect that some voters may be feeling some Ohtani fatigue. It will be fun to see how this plays out.
Don’t blame Comforto, the whole team is pathetic! And this team is supposed to win another World Series?
I am totally, 100% convinced that Conforto really doesn’t care if we win or lose. His heart isn’t into winning.
Tommy Edman Injury Update
Edman is beginning a rehab assignment with Triple-A OKC on Tuesday as the team’s designated hitter. Roberts said he’ll only DH and play center field during his rehab stint, and is likely on pace for a return next week.
Well, I won’t say it, because I hope not, but it seems that this game is o …..
Teo in RF = liability
If Schwarber wins the MVP, there should be an investigation.
OHTANI has more than 1.0 WAR over Schwarber.
6:40 PM ET
Dodgers (78-59)
Pirates (61-77)
SP Clayton Kershaw L
9-2 3.06 ERA
SP Carmen Modzinski R
3-7 3.86ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
RF T. Hernandez R
LF M. Conforto L
CF Andy Pages R
3B A. Freeland S
2B Miguel Rojas R
76° Wind 3 mph In
LA has 15 road and 10 home games left. Bad news is that they are just a .500 team on the road. One of the reasons for this is that Pages hits .237 on the road and over .300 at home. As a team the Dodgers are hitting almost 20 points lower on the road. They need to nip that in the bud quickly. Ohtani still strikes out way too much. He is not the MVP this season. Schwarber has more homers and RBIs and most likely will surpass the 54 Shohei hit last year. He has a shot at 60. If the Phils win their division that will help his MVP votes. Will Smith should get some votes too. He until the last month was the most consistent hitter in the league. Freeman and Trea Turner are the only NL hitters at .300. Milwaukee lost their closer, Megill and then Anderson to injury this week, then yesterday, Shelby Miller felt something pop in his elbow. 3 pitchers from their very good bullpen down. Padres lost Adams for the season to an injury yesterday and Tatis Jr. missed the game with lower body tightness.
SD losses at home….2.5 and really 3.5 up….
Our ACE on the mound tonight,
@THEREAL_DV
Dave Roberts said Max Muncy will not rejoin #Dodgers on this road trip due to his chest cold that has delayed his rehab.
Andrew Heaney?
It’s tough bitching about the Dodgers woes. We all know that they are better than they are playing. I honestly think some of the veterans are gassed and others are just having a bad year. Father time is definitely creeping up on Mook.
Kim and Edmonds should provide a spark but will it be enough? Agree to move Ohtani down where he can drive in runs. Pages’, Edmond or Kim could be a good fit at the top of the lineup, especially a switch hitter like Edmonds. I know singles hitters are not the most exciting but they keep the train moving for the heavy hitters and make the opposing pitcher expend pitches and be at their limit by the 5th inning.
You guys saw what the Snakes did with 3 switches in the lineup. They could load the lineup LH or RH every day. Fortunately our starters were all pitching like #1s. but it wasn’t enough.
So, who are you benching to play Scott?
Vesia? Banda? Dreyer?
Do you really need an equal number of lefties and righties?
What if the debate is between, say, Henriquez and Scott?
Let’s remember that Scott also struggled before his injury. He has saved 20 games–but also has 8 blown saves.
His ERA over 48 innings is 4.44. His Batting Avg Against is .253, compared to .189 for Vesia, .209 for Dreyer and .211 for Banda.
Yes, Tanner Scott is supposed to be the best of the bunch. That’s why he get the big bucks.
But his performance has been mediocre.
BTW, our old friend Kenley Jansen is nicely adding to his HOF nomination papers. He has 25-for-26 in save opportunities, compared to 20-for-28 for Scott. He’s also won 5 games, and lost 4, compared to Scott’s 1-2 record. He just lowered his ERA to 2.94, and his BAA is .194.
Certainly would have been fun to have Kenley back, right?
I get it today would have been a very tough loss. I understand with the excellent starting pitching Blue got this weekend you would think they should have the chance for the sweep. But it’s baseball, you don’t win games in the 7th or 8th inning.
It was the right spot to give Tanner Scott a chance. I know he has not been what we wanted or expected.
But Charlie and Rick were brutal towards him. I hear and feel the passion they have for the Dodgers like we all do.
But they almost acted like Tanner is not trying. How about something like he has been working hard but things are haven’t been great. Let’s give the guy some support. Last time I looked he is wearing a Dodger uniform.
Well, at least Will Smith came in and saved the day. Whew, I was seriously “face-palming” when Scott gave up that game tying bomb and thinking, WHAT THE EFF is with this team? Are they suddenly snakebit?
Anyway, all is right with my world……at least until the next series starts.
PS: Why is it I feel positive that Buehler will find “another gear” with the Phillies in the post season and especially against…..the Dodgers! Yikers.
Buehler to the Phillies
Tanner Scott = untrustworthy
So $4.85 million bought 1 run against the Diamondbacks.
I’d ask for some refund.
Very sad!!!@
Roberts need to manufactor runs, not sit back and do nothing waiting for the 3 run homer. Bat Ohtani 3rd. Doesn’t
Even have 100 RBI’s with 45 hrs
1. Starting pitching is healthy and going deeper into games.
2. Ohtani, Freeman, Smith & Betts are among the best at their respective position.
3. The bullpen is receiving reinforcements and a potential overflow of extra arms.
4. Buddy Kennedy is gone.
5. The minor leagues are loaded, although 2027 is a more likely impact year than next.
6. Money doesn’t matter.
7. The rest of the league is flawed too.
8. Pages is our best young player.
9. Rushing & Freeland look like keepers.
10. NLCS MVP Edman is on the way back, as is lineup keystone Muncy.
they look more like deadheads! arizona got rid of players and are getting better! the dodgers? i’m not sure what the problem is. well. i can guess. THE OFFENSE!!!!! Max, Edman, and Kim can’t cure it all, but hopefully they can help. Homer or bust is their motto and the bust is winning! No need for people to scream shake things up. no matter where you put conforto he is a .190 hitter. Teo is not productive anywhere right now. Sloppy baseball and good pitching doesn’t mix!
They have great bobbleheads